What does phrase 'HOLD/KEEP AT BAY' mean in English?

Native English speaker from the US explains the meaning of the phrase "HOLD/KEEP AT BAY" for the Native English Video Dictionary. Learn new phrases like a native!
00:00 intro
00:10 introduction of the native speaker
00:20 the meaning of the expression "TO HOLD/KEEP SOMEBODY or SOMETHING AT BAY"
00:46 the tree frogs HOLDING predators AT BAY example
01:00 KEEPING your creditors AT BAY example
01:38 HOLDING hunger AT BAY example
02:20 HOLD AT BAY implies real effort
02:34 KEEPING the attackers AT BAY in a battle example
03:04 the movie "300" and bare-chested guys as an example of the expression
03:26 HOLDING illness AT BAY example
03:39 HOLDING your boss AT BAY example

[odoblanchard]

hello rose thank you so much for the videos and the channel have to stick here so that i can be fluent... im struggling with english